The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-07


in Tree Top, But Not a Scratch.
Tho exciting and novel event OF yostcr-
day was the pcrlous exhibition by the
famous baloonist, Ned Hathaway at Jack
son Mound park. Long before the time
when the inflated aiiship WAS TO leap from
the earth into space, hundreds Of people
made their way to the park. and by the
time everything was in readiness for the
bold feat the spacious grounds were well
filed by nervous and oSpcctant throng.
As the initiating process commenced
Mr.. Hathaway, the hero Of the occasion,
mounted a stand, and in a clearly distinct
voice announced that the weather had
prevented his first exhibition. and that an
unaccountsblc mishap had caused the
public 10 be- disappointed on Sunday last,
but in keeping with his many years Of
faith with the public, lac had invited them
20 the park 10 see, free OF charge, n genuine
ascension, and II they would bc patient
for fifteen or twenty minutes they would
not be disappointed.
The huge balloon lay limp and fiat on
the ground rs the fin was started. Gently
but pcrccp,ibly the heavy canvas
began 10 swell with the hot air
Manager Fisk asked for fifty or
an hundred men, II necessary, to come
from the audience within thocir'ling rope
and assist Ia hold the canvas securely
down while the initiation was going on. In
the meantime Hathaway, ~ cool and col-
leclcl ~ man going on a peaceful jour
new. looked actively after the details pre-
paalory Ia his leave. lie arranged the
parachute himself, and pleasantly cX-
planned to nm ArITL man how he con
ducied himself on IL, in hi ascent and de-
scent. The parachute j. made ri the most
substantial unblclchcd duck linen, and its
combined weight, with equipments Mr.
Hathaway included isHDpounds. llaiha.
way is aman thirlyhyc years of age, sparcly
built weighing 40 pounds with dark
hair aud mustachc and pleasant face. lie
talks freely and pleasantly, taking great
pride In detailing his midair ventures. lie
looked after Ill the preparations infinitely
and gave directions gs tu the management
OF the rupcs, handling several Of them
himself \ man ncloScd In the
balloon proper regulated the heat
that was cnsrnlrpd through the hot I'M
dergOmd Hue lrom dry wool, on which
several gallons oi gasoline AMI other glls
generating liquids were thrown at mo.
mcntory intervals hy the cupful Tho
balloon Is a huge one, holding $500 cubic
feet Of air, AMI weighs @npounds.
Inside of twenty minutes the great cone
shaped can,us wis di,i,ndcd To it, fullest
capacity. Hathaway sluId No the pau,-
chute with his hlnds on the iron iuipczc bar.
With the remark hNm him HAT "-hc was
fun. Manager lisk cried out, Every
man let 90 NJ the same time At the
signal the liliy odd mrn who stood with
their feet un the mon rm which weighted
the canvas stepped hark and like dart
the balloon shot hoa,cuWutd With q jerk
AMI enntchcd hathaway. Ike q feather,
alirril. he looked down on the excited
aud applauding mgs"s AMI exclaimed.
"l'll make il thi, time - rapidly did
DC lly upward that other wurl-, u ho nj.
tcrcd any cuild not hc heard The crowd
screamed and ycllrl. -uuc saving Ia mm
90 "hold fast, aud other, 10 Come back, "
etc.
After going spy,Wl hundred feet oE nr
Iiuunnl liua ti,a i..ii...s', ,,st- carried ~
the wind o. tli" Ncs,WuNl aud Tor time
II seemed that IL WIS going directly acr,ss
e
anl hal a tug stationed in midriycr tu
pick him up u be- should iill IN the water
A. II WIS passing over the bank. When Al
hight ui about un feet, Hathaway
Slipped the nnl,c which held the parachute
io the ballu0n IT, seemed "a drop al
least hundred feet the moment the rope
was detached. Tie parachute ccancd
and wayrrrd fur the moment IN the air.
a.
gently. The crnNd rushed tn the rputhcu
extremity ul the park tu see how hc Nuul'
nlirht. Down, down hc came into M,
deep hollow whirh lic- beneath the park
The crowd stnod In hraihlcss rNpcrinc,
~ they siw the parachute descend
ing slunUly upon hallgOWi
tvc Hathaway, With III his wits abou
linn. saw lhat be- Nnz going IN lodge In ~,
tpc top, and, with great pr~pncc 81 mind
swung out on the lar, Jerking the par
nchuic 81 the side and came down through
the thnny branches NJ the tr'c unscaihod
tayc with q few wuts IN his tight iiiiini
costume. NJ he lopd up under ihl
branches oi the trr lrpm b"luw and ~
luicd the audicnrr aluyc, hr WIS gpcici
with the widest applause. lie at uur
arranged ihr parachute. intrricd II to
tANNANN w NilNlh VIZ WV llNlt Nilil ~ Nllii'
himself Ia receive tie hearty cungmlula
lions which awaited him.
Ever one W.. delighted with the vNhi
biuun, anil viii bong p'mrmhor the DARN.
feat Mr. llathaNu, will give another ~
hhiii0n un SUNDAY afternoon next ~ th
park. ahuul the same hour The CNhihi
iiun yr-icrla, make. 30 ai1ti IT thu Kind
lie b native ut lii,lii,ld H., and ha
bcrn in the hu.Inc., since 1874
Ancr De- had gotten up uu the bin an,
r'rs-,d hius' li uhuui the iirt rmaH
be wus hcarli' Wakruue u must ha-lct
up town and tul'gnph to NY mother ~,
knew that WJs 90 90 az ,odly, and
anNiously waiting know. ig learn tie n
mli. alWats iclrgriph her immvlatcl
after an exhibition She lives in Spnn.
fell, ~, lint knows every las where
am lie was No mlrp excited When Il
started than When ho struck the cart
alirNari lie siis hc enjoys the ride
into tie ar, md up Que can ever lno,
how dcliphtiui thv sensation b. until the
have tined a.
The ball"on iilur ihc parachute was "a
away continued 10 usuni, aud huaiv
NesiWarl. II vent fully l.UuO feet In M
air bClon W. power lewn IN Wlax and
The urnt volumes NJ black smoke vmtir
Il lean Ia rink gradually, aud FINAL
landed between two h0usrs ON the uppusi
bank II the iyrr II WIS unimpairs
anil will be- used lur SUNDAYS even
Yesterday was the siSlh air ,oysgc 1t b.
made.
Ha.